Improvement in pocket-book fasteners



D.M.READJ POCKET-BOOK FASTENER. No.172,170. Patented Jan. 11,1876.

, To all whom it may concern UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL M. READ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-BOOK FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. I 72,170, dated January11,1876; application filed November 6, 1875. V

'\GASE B.

Be it known that I, DANIEL M. READ, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new-and useful Improvement in AdjustableFastener for Pocket-Books, 850., of which the following is aspecification:

Figure l isa front viewof my improved fastener, shown as applied to apocket-book. Fig.2 is a longitudinal section of the same, taken throughthe line w .90, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. 4 is aside view of the same.

' Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention consists essentially in the provision of a pivotedspring-pressed cap or catch retaining plate, which is extended in rearof its pivot, so that it can be operated by the thumb or finger torelease the catch on the flap from the fastening on the body of thepocket-book.

A is the base-plate of the fastener, which has points or claws a formedupon its edges for securing it to the body of the pocket-book. Upon theupper side of theplate A are formed toothed ribs (o to receive the catchB, attached to the flap of the pocket-book. To

' the end part of the base-plate A is hinged the cap-plateG, by whichthe catch is held down to its place, and which is itself held down uponthe catch by a spring, D, attached to the plate A, and acting upon theplate (J. Instead of toothed. ribs and a catch, a pin may be attached tothe plate A, upon the upper end of which the cap-plate O rests, andwhich is designed to pass through an eyelet-hole in the flap of thepocket-book; or any other locking device may be used.

The plate C may be hinged to the plate A by joints formed upon the edgesof one of said plates, to pass through lugs formed upon the other plate,or in any other convenient manner. The plate 0 is extended to therearward, and when the fastener is made thin it should be inclined orcurved upward, so that the forward end of the plate 0 may be raised torelease the catch, by pressing downward upon the rearward extension ofthe said plate C. With this construction, the fastener may be unfastenedwith gloved hands without inconvenience, and without injuring thegloves.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The pivoted cap-plate 0, provided with a thumb-pieceor extension-plate, in combination with the base-plate A, provided witha suitable catch or flap engaging device, thespring D, and a catch onthe flap of the pocket-book, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

DANIEL M. READ.

Witnesses: J AMES T. GRAHAM, m T. B. MOSHER.

